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Local teens get help dressing up for proms

Linda Crabtree, right, gets a hug from her sister-in-law Maedean Crabtree after finishing up with the donations of dresses for Lindsey's Dresses for Hope, Saturday afternoon, February 23, 2013.

Doug Engle/Star-Banner

By Kathy MancilCorrespondent

Published: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 11:39 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 11:39 a.m.

Part of the “magic” for teen girls preparing for proms, military balls and other special occasions typically held in spring is picking out the perfect dress.

Facts

PROM DATES

Marion County Public High School proms include:

April 13: Forest and West Port

April 20: Lake Weir

May 18: Belleview, Dunnellon, North Marion and Vanguard

(Hillcrest and MTI students attend proms at their base school.)

Source: Marion County Public Schools

BLESS DRESS GIVEAWAY

A local cancer awareness group, Pink, Pearl and Lace also is sponsoring its third annual give-away event to help clothe needy high school students - boys and girls - for prom.

The goal of A Bless Dress Giveaway Event, said spokeswoman Katrina Thomas, is to clothe a minimum of two girls and two guys from each Marion County public high school “from head to toe.”

Donations of new or gently used dresses and tuxedos, as well as accessories, still are needed, said Thomas. Or, she said, individuals, families and businesses are invited to sponsor individual students. Donations can be dropped off at Howard Academy, 306 NW 7th Ave, Ocala.

The giveaway event, which is being held at the academy, is scheduled for noon Saturday, April 6. For more information, or to make arrangements for pick-ups, call 512-5130.

- Kathy Mancil

Unfortunately, not every girl can afford a new dress, not to mention shoes and other accessories to go along with their special outfit. That’s where Linda Crabtree comes in.

Crabtree is preparing for Lindsey’s Dresses For Hope, an annual dress giveaway event she started as a way to honor her daughter, Lindsey Faye Crabtree, who died in an automobile accident in 2004 at 17. Now in its eighth year, this year’s giveaway is scheduled for March 23 at the Munroe Regional Medical Center’s Auxiliary Conference Center.

“This is what gives me the energy to go on,” Crabtree said on Saturday as she collected dresses in front of Gabriel’s Christian Book and Supply on East Silver Springs Boulevard. She said her husband, Wesley Crabtree, and daughter, Kelly, 20, as well as numerous volunteers, help her make the event possible each year.

A little after noon Saturday, more than 20 dresses had been dropped off, along with a few boxes of shoes and a variety of sparkly jewelry and hair accessories. The owner of Jeannine’s Hairstyles, a hair salon in the shopping plaza, also had stopped by and donated gift certificates for free hairstyles to be given away at the event as prizes.

But then, Nina McNeal showed up with her SUV packed with at least 15 nearly new dresses that had been passed along to her, and shopping bags filled with boxes of high-heeled shoes. The dresses ranged from a petite-sized pink and purple flower-print formal with spaghetti straps to a simple plus-sized black and white semi-formal.

Crabtree said she loves to offer a wide variety of sizes and styles so every girl in need can find “just the right dress.”

McNeal said she was glad to help. Crabtree noted that McNeal, who is a sales director for Mary Kay cosmetics, had already donated goody-bags and certificates for free makeovers to be given away during the event.

Other prize items previously donated, said Crabtree, include a bottle of Juicy Couture perfume, a Sally Hansen “crackle” nail polish kit, and a number of free prom up-dos by local hairstylists.

“The community has been awesome with contributing to this event. I’ve just been blown away,” she said.

In the past, Crabtree said, she has held a fashion show as part of the festivities but, this year, she is planning a fun program that will include a variety of speakers and singers. She is planning for about 50 to 100 girls to attend, she said.

Any girl who needs a dress for a special event and cannot afford one is invited to the giveaway, said Crabtree. She emphasized that all the dresses as well as shoes and accessories will be given away at no cost.

To date, Crabtree has given away more than 1,000 dresses.

“One year, we gave out over 500,” she said, adding that she welcomes donations year-round.

“It’s not just about the dress,” she noted. “It really means so much to these girls that someone cares enough to help them make their particular event special. It truly does make it magical for them.”

“I think Lindsey would be proud,” she added.

The Lindsey’s Dresses For Hope Dress Giveaway will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23 at the Munroe Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Conference Center, 1542 SW First Ave., Ocala. For more information, call Linda Crabtree at 216-8861.

<p>Part of the “magic” for teen girls preparing for proms, military balls and other special occasions typically held in spring is picking out the perfect dress.</p><p>Unfortunately, not every girl can afford a new dress, not to mention shoes and other accessories to go along with their special outfit. That's where Linda Crabtree comes in.</p><p>Crabtree is preparing for Lindsey's Dresses For Hope, an annual dress giveaway event she started as a way to honor her daughter, Lindsey Faye Crabtree, who died in an automobile accident in 2004 at 17. Now in its eighth year, this year's giveaway is scheduled for March 23 at the Munroe Regional Medical Center's Auxiliary Conference Center.</p><p>“This is what gives me the energy to go on,” Crabtree said on Saturday as she collected dresses in front of Gabriel's Christian Book and Supply on East Silver Springs Boulevard. She said her husband, Wesley Crabtree, and daughter, Kelly, 20, as well as numerous volunteers, help her make the event possible each year.</p><p>A little after noon Saturday, more than 20 dresses had been dropped off, along with a few boxes of shoes and a variety of sparkly jewelry and hair accessories. The owner of Jeannine's Hairstyles, a hair salon in the shopping plaza, also had stopped by and donated gift certificates for free hairstyles to be given away at the event as prizes.</p><p>But then, Nina McNeal showed up with her SUV packed with at least 15 nearly new dresses that had been passed along to her, and shopping bags filled with boxes of high-heeled shoes. The dresses ranged from a petite-sized pink and purple flower-print formal with spaghetti straps to a simple plus-sized black and white semi-formal.</p><p>Crabtree said she loves to offer a wide variety of sizes and styles so every girl in need can find “just the right dress.”</p><p>McNeal said she was glad to help. Crabtree noted that McNeal, who is a sales director for Mary Kay cosmetics, had already donated goody-bags and certificates for free makeovers to be given away during the event.</p><p>Other prize items previously donated, said Crabtree, include a bottle of Juicy Couture perfume, a Sally Hansen “crackle” nail polish kit, and a number of free prom up-dos by local hairstylists.</p><p>“The community has been awesome with contributing to this event. I've just been blown away,” she said.</p><p>In the past, Crabtree said, she has held a fashion show as part of the festivities but, this year, she is planning a fun program that will include a variety of speakers and singers. She is planning for about 50 to 100 girls to attend, she said.</p><p>Any girl who needs a dress for a special event and cannot afford one is invited to the giveaway, said Crabtree. She emphasized that all the dresses as well as shoes and accessories will be given away at no cost.</p><p>To date, Crabtree has given away more than 1,000 dresses.</p><p>“One year, we gave out over 500,” she said, adding that she welcomes donations year-round.</p><p>“It's not just about the dress,” she noted. “It really means so much to these girls that someone cares enough to help them make their particular event special. It truly does make it magical for them.”</p><p>“I think Lindsey would be proud,” she added.</p><p>The Lindsey's Dresses For Hope Dress Giveaway will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23 at the Munroe Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Conference Center, 1542 SW First Ave., Ocala. For more information, call Linda Crabtree at 216-8861.</p>